Rotary impulse sprinkler



Oct 31, 1967 A. R. J. FRIEDMANN ETAL ROTARY IMPULSE SPR INKLER Filed Dec. 16, 1965 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,350,015 ROTARY llVIPULSE SPRINKLER Anton R. J. Friedmann and Ralph H. Eby, Troy, Ohio, assignors to Ashley F. Ward, Inc., doing business as The Skinner Irrigation Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,316 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-230) This invention relates to water sprinklers and particularly to an improved rotary impact sprinkler of the general type shown in Patents No. 2,254,270 and No. 2,778,681. Such sprinklers include a rotatably supported body which carries a nozzle and a spring biased pivotally mounted impact arm. A deflector is mounted on the end of the impact arm and is adapted to intercept the stream from the nozzle to produce an oscillatory swinging ac tion of the arm which, in turn, provides successive impacts for rotating the body in successive small increments.

During many years of manufacturing sprinklers of the type described above and shown in the above patents and after observing them in service during this period, it has been found that the sprinklers are sometimes subjected to severe use and handling. For example, the sprinklers are frequently tossed about and occasionally fall onto a hard surface which results in deforming the impact arm or its supporting means and thereby moves the deflector out of alignment with the nozzle stream. This misalignment can significantly affect the performance and the operation of the sprinkler.

In addition, it has been found that as a result of the conventional cantilevered support on the impact arm as shown in the above patents, the components of the sprinkler are subjected to excessive wear over an extended period of use. Upon analyzing a number of sprinklers which have received such wear, it has been determined that the wear is primarily attributed to unbalanced loading conditions on the deflector and the impact arm and on their respective supporting means. v

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary impulse sprinkler of the type described above wherein the loading on the sprinkler components is uniformly distributed to provide extended service without significant wear.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sprinkler as outlined above which has improved strength so that it is substantially more durable for withstanding the effects of rough handling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler which is economical in construction and, in addition, incorporates convenient means for precisely adjusting the spring biasing force acting on the impact arm according to the pressure of the water supplied to the sprinkler.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sprinkler constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the sprinkler shown in FIG. 1 as seen along the line 22;

FIG. 3 is-a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly in section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sprinkler shown in FIG. 1 generally includes a Y-shaped body threadably mounted on a tubular shaft 12 which is rotatably supported within a fitting 14 having a threaded portion (not shown) adapted to be connected to a suitable water supply line (not shown). Preferably a friction brake within the upper surface of the lug 24 by a pair of spaced (not shown) is enclosed within the fitting 14 and is adapted to be adjusted by a screw 17 for providing a drag against free rotation of the spindle 12. A typical such brake mechanism is shown in No. 2,586,517.

As shown in FIG. 1, the body 10 includes one elongated tubular portion 19 for supplying water to a nozzle (not shown) which is mounted on the end of the portion 19 and a second tubular portion 20 which has a nozzle 22 threadably mounted on the end thereof. The nozzle 22 is provided with a suitable opening for distributing water which is supplied through the passageway 23 (FIG. 3) defined by the tubular portion 20. Extending laterally or from one side of the tubular portion 20 are an upper lug 24 and a lower lug 25 which are provided with aligned cylindrical openings 27 which have a common axis lying in a vertical plane. A slot 28 is formed shoulders 29 (FIG. 4).

Extending through the aligned openings 27 formed in the lugs 24 and 25 is a tubular sleeve 30 having a head portion 32 (FIG. 4) in which is formed a series of circumferentially spaced serrations defining radially extending teeth 34. An axially extending slot 36 (FIG. 3) is formed in the lower end portion of the sleeve 30 and extends into the opening 27 of the lower lug 25. A circumferential groove 38 is formed within the upper portion of the sleeve 30 adjacent the underside of the head portion 32 for receiving the arcuate legs 39 (FIG. 4) of a fork-shaped clip 40 which preferably is formed from spring wire. As shown in FIG. 3, the U-shaped head portion of the clip'40 is inclined upwardly to extend between an adjacent pair of teeth 34 and into the slot 28 between the shoulders 29.

Surrounding the sleeve 30 and spaced between the lugs 24 and 25 is a helically wound torsion spring 45 having its lower end portion 46 extending downwardly into the slot 36 in the sleeve 30 and its upper end portion 47 (FIG. 2) formed in the shape of a hook. A bushing 48 is spaced between the spring 45 and the exterior surface of the sleeve 30 and includes a radially extending annular flange 50 which is spaced between the upper turn or end surface of the spring 45 and the lower surface of the upper lug 24. Preferably, the bushing 48 is formed from a suitable plastic material having a low coefficient of friction and is loosely mounted on the sleeve 30 so that it will rotate with the spring 45.

An impact arm 54 including a pair of spaced upper and lower support arms or members 55 is pivotally supported by a pin 56 which extends through hub portion 57 of the support members 55 and the sleeve 30-. Preferably, a pair of bushings 58 formed from a phosphorus bronze material or a suitable plastic material are fitted within the hub portions 57 for receiving the pin 56. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plastic washer 60 is spaced between the upper hub portion 57 and the top surface of the head portion 32 of the sleeve 30, and a plastic washer 62 is mounted on the lower end portion of the pin 56 between the bottom surface of the lower hub portion 57 and a retaining ring 65 mounted on the lower end portion of the pin 56.

The impact arm 54 includes an integrally formed counterweight in which is formed an opening 72 (FIG. 1) for receiving the upper hooked end portion 47 of the torsion spring 45. As shown in FIG. 1, the support members 55 of the impact arm 54 converge slightly and include hub portions 74 which are connected by an integrally formed web member 75. The hub portions 74 of the support members 55 are provided with aligned openings which have an axis parallel to the axis of the aligned openings 27 formed Within the lugs 24 and 25.

A bolt 77 extends through the openings and pivotally sup- 3 ports a deflector member 80 having a slot in its forward end defined by flat surfaces 82 and 83 which alternately engage opposite sides of the web member 75 to limit the rotational movement of the deflector'member.

The operation of the sprinkler described above is generally the same as the operation of the sprinklers shown in the above patents. That is, when the impact arm 55 is in the position as shown in FIG. 2, water directed from the nozzle 22 against the flat surface 86 of the deflector member 80 is deflected by the extending surface 87 causing the deflector member to pivot clockwise on the bolt 77 and the flat surface 85 to extend across the water stream. The stream is deflected clockwise by the surface 85 (FIG. 2) thereby producing a reaction force on the arm 54 causing it to rotate counterclockwise on the axis of the pin 56 against the biasing force of the torsion spring 45. When the arm 55 returns clockwise (FIG. 2) to its normal position by the spring 45, the counterweight portion 70 engages or impacts the body at the point 88 which produces a reaction clockwise impulse torque on the lugs 24 and 25 and thereby step-by-step clockwise rotation of the body 10. As can be seen in FIG. 1, when the impact arm 54 rotates, the tubular portion and the nozzle 22 extend between the support arms or members 55.

A sprinkler constructed in accordance with the invention provides several desirable features and advantages. Primarily, the construction of lugs 24 and 25 along with mounting of the deflector member 80 on the end of the arm 54 between the support members 55 produces a balanced loading condition which has been found to reduce wear substantially on all of the moving parts. That is, the force exerted by a stream of water directed from the nozzle 22 against the deflector member 80 is uniformly distributed over the pair of support members 55 which, in turn, transmit the force uniformly and in one plane to the pin 56 extending through the lugs 24 and 25 projecting from the body 10. In addition, this construction provides high strength and durability so that an accidental impact force or blow exerted on the arm 54 will not deform the arm. Thus the construction of the impact arm 54 and its mounting on the body 10 along with the mounting of the deflector member 80 has been found to reduce wear substantially and also assures that the deflector member will be maintained in precise alignment with the stream of water from the nozzle 22.

Another advantage is provided by the mounting of the torsion spring 45 between the lugs 24 and 25, which serve to shield and protect the spring without the need for constructing a full enclosure. In addition, the plastic bushing 48 with its integral flange 50 have been found highly desirable for substantially reducing the wear on the spring 45 by providing a plastic bearing surface having a low coefficient of friction.

A further feature is provided by the sleeve and the simplified assembly of the spring clip for providing convenient and quick adjustment of the spring according to the pressure of the water supplied to the sprinkler. That is, by simply depressing the U-shaped head portion of the clip 40 out of engagement between adjacent teeth 34, the sleeve 30 can be rotated to wind or unwind the spring 45 and thereby vary the torsional force exerted by the hooked end portion 47 of the spring 45 on the arm 54. Another feature is provided by forming the deflector member 80 from a low friction plastic material which has also been found desirable for aiding in increasing the service life of the sprinkler by reducing wear on the deflector member 80 and its supporting bolt 77.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an impulse sprinkler including a rotatably supported body carrying at least one nozzle for distributing a stream of Water over a predetermined area, the improvement for reducing wear and increasing the durability of the sprinkler comprising lug means projecting laterally from said body, an impact arm including a pair of vertically spaced support members, means for pivotally mounting said arm on said lug means, a deflector member, means pivotally mounting said deflector member on said arm between said support members in a position where said deflector member intercepts the stream from said nozzle to produce a reaction force for pivoting said arm and for distributing said force uniformly through said support members to said lug means, and spring means conecting said arm to said body for opposing said reaction force and for pivoting said arm back to a position where said deflector member intercepts said stream to produce successive impacts for rotating said body.

2. A sprinkler as defined in claim 1 wherein said lug means includes a pair of spaced lugs extending between said support members, said spring means includes a helically wound torsion spring, and means mounting said torsion spring between said lugs for providing a compact assembly having high strength and durability in addition to protecting said spring.

3. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2 including a bushing of low friction plastic material spaced between the inner surface of said torsion spring and said means pivotally mounting said arm on said body, and an annular flange extending from said bushing and spaced between the end of said torsion spring and one of said lugs for reducing wear of said spring, said lug and said means for mounting said arm.

4. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said arm includes a tubular sleeve extending through at least one of said lugs and having means for engaging one end of said spring, head means on said sleeve including means forming a series of peripherally spaced teeth thereon, and means extending from said body for selectively engaging said teeth to provide for convenient adjustability of said torsion spring.

5. A springler as defined in claim 4 wherein said means engaging said teeth include a fork-shaped clip constructed from spring wire, and means defining a groove in said sleeve for receiving said clip and for cooperating with said opening in an adjacent said lug to retain said clip.

6. A sprinkler as defined in claim 1 wherein said deflector member is formed from a plastic material having a low coefficient of friction for reducing wear, and web means formed as an integral part of said arm and connecting the corresponding end portions of said support members adjacent said deflector member for limiting the rotational movement of said deflector member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,053 3/1959 Kennard 239230 X 3,033,469 5/1962 Green 239-233 X 3,070,314 12/1962 Warren 239230 M. HENSON WOOD, .IR., Primary Examiner.

H. NATTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN IMPULSE SPRINKLER INCLUDING A ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BODY CARRYING AT LEAST ONE NOZZLE FOR DISTRIBUTING A STREAM OF WATER OVER A PREDETERMINED AREA, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR REDUCING WEAR AND INCREASING THE DURABILITY OF THE SPRINKLER COMPRISING LUG MEANS PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID BODY, AN IMPACT ARM INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ARM ON SAID LUG MEANS, A DEFLECTOR MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DEFLECTOR MEMBER ON SAID ARM BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS IN A POSITION WHERE SAID DEFLECTOR MEMBER INTERCEPTS THE STREAM FROM A NOZZLE TO PRODUCE A REACTION FORCE FOR PIVOTING SAID ARM AND FOR DISTRIBUTING SAID FORCE UNIFORMLY THROUGH SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS TO SAID LUG MEANS, AND SPRING MEANS CONNECTING SAID ARM TO SAID BODY FOR OPPOSING AND REACTION FORCE AND FOR PIVOTING SAID ARM BACK TO A POSITION WHERE SAID DEFLECTOR MEMBER INTERCEPTS SAID STREAM TO PRODUCE SUCCESSIVE IMPACTS FOR ROTATING SAID BODY. 